www.brightoncollegealain.ae

COLLEGE BUILDING UPDATE

The College campus is really beginning to take shape. I have visited the campus on several occasions over the last few weeks, and each time I step onto the site I am amazed by the efficiency with which the contractors are realising the fantastic designs. The ground and second floors of the Administration building that will be at the heart of the College have now been completed. It will house the Theatre, Sports Centre, Dining Hall, College Reception break-out areas and staff offices. This week, for the first time, I walked around the entire site and really got a sense for the space and seamless flow between the different buildings, which I believe will make the College campus a tranquil yet busy place for our pupils to work or study. I have worked in some outstanding schools throughout my career, but none compare with Brighton College Al

Ain in terms of the striking campus and building designs. I am reminded how lucky the College community will be to work in such a fantastic school. The best way to view the site at present is to drive past; it will certainly give you an impression of the generous size of the campus and the pace at which the school buildings are rising from the sand! I am now based at the Men‟s Campus of the Higher Colleges of Technology where we have recently opened the Brighton College Admissions Office. All prospective parents and pupils may drop in during office hours and discuss our plans for the College with myself or a member of the Senior Management Team. Alun Yorath

e-Newsletter 2 January 2013

Head Master Alun Yorath visits the College site to inspect the building progress

Over 100 prospective pupils and local teachers joined the Head Master, Alun Yorath, and a number of staff from Brighton College UK and Brighton College Abu Dhabi at the Rotana Hotel in Al Ain on Sunday 9 December. Professor Lord Skidelsky, the Chairman of Governors of Brighton College in the UK, introduced Richard Cairns, the Head Master of Brighton College UK, who spoke about his desire to expand the Brighton College family of schools and how he was delighted that a second school in the UAE was being opened in Al Ain so shortly after the successful opening of Brighton College Abu Dhabi. Mr Cairns spoke about the need to provide children

with a stimulating school environment, allowing pupils to become intellectually curious young men and women. He pointed out that central to the Brighton College ethos is the vision that every child will excel as an individual. Mr Cairns is often heard to challenge his pupils at Brighton College UK to “be a first rate version of yourself and not a second rate version of someone else.” Alun Yorath, the founding Head Master, then spoke about his vision for Brighton College Al Ain before hosting a question-and-answer session, with many parents and prospective teaching staff taking the opportunity to find out more about the plans for the College.

”

“ Brighton College Al Ain will be an iconic school set in this wonderful city, the ancestral home of Sheikh Zayed.

Alun Yorath, Founding Head Master

LAUNCH EVENT SUCCESS!

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Mrs Annie Leggett as the College‟s Admissions Manager. Mrs Leggett has lived in the UAE since 2008 where she has worked for ADEC as a schools‟ advisor and for the Higher Colleges as an English Language teacher to their undergraduate pupils. Prior to this she worked in New Zealand and South Africa where she was as an English teacher and a member of Middle and Senior Management in a number of primary and secondary schools. Mrs Leggett has extensive knowledge of online testing and has several qualifications in teaching and assessing English as an Additional Language. Her recent experiences of working in Al Ain coupled with her previous school experiences and her language qualifications make her very well suited to

the role of Admissions Manager. Annie lives in Al Ain with her husband who is an accountant and has four children aged 21-25 who are studying or working in various countries around the world. She will be responsible for managing all aspects of the Admissions Office, which is based at Al Ain Men‟s College until the College campus opens later this year. Prospective parents may drop in at any time to the Admissions Office. The opening hours are 9am to 5pm, Sunday to Thursday.

www.brightoncollegealain.ae

INTRODUCING OUR NEW ADMISSIONS MANAGER

AN INTERVIEW WITH OUR NEW HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL

Rebecca Layton-Short talks with the Head Master about her appointment and her family’s preparations for the move to Al Ain.

Head Master: Welcome to Brighton College Al Ain, Rebecca! Rebecca: Thank you, Alun. It is a great privilege to take up the position, at what is clearly such an exciting time for the College. Head Master: What are you most looking forward to? Rebecca: To welcoming our families and getting to know the children. I am excited to have the opportunity to provide an outstanding British-style education in Al Ain, which reflects the aims of Brighton College UK. It is a world-famous school and I am thrilled to be part of the leadership team in setting up Brighton College Al Ain. Head Master: What will you bring to the role as the Head of Junior School? Rebecca: A genuine commitment to the very best education and care for young children. I will also bring a wealth of teaching and senior management skills, gained in leading international schools, including working in the Middle East. Head Master: Why Al Ain? Rebecca: There is a saying that, „It takes a village to raise a child‟. Brighton College will be at the centre of a very strong family community in Al Ain. It is something we are both committed to nurturing ,aren‟t we? Al Ain suits families, whilst Abu Dhabi and Dubai are just there on the doorstep – ideal for weekend shopping trips! Of

course, I‟m a Head but also a mother and, in accepting this position, I chose the very best for my own son too. Having children changes everything, doesn‟t it? Head Master: Absolutely! Tell me a bit about your family. Rebecca: I‟m married to Russell, who is a History teacher. Russell‟s passions are all historical (of course!), but he also loves mountain climbing and Formula One. You can imagine just how excited he is about living near the mountains of Oman and being so close to the Abu Dhabi‟s F1 circuit! Russell is going to take some time out, to take care of our young son, Edward, as we settle in to life in Al Ain.

Head Master: And Edward? Rebecca: Edward is three and a half and is a delightful little boy, who is full of curiosity and energy. Russell and I want to bring Edward up in a strong family-based community. We want him to have a happy childhood, which is full of rich experiences. Of course, we also want him to have an excellent education, which will give him the very best opportunities in life. Brighton College Al Ain and living in Al Ain will do just that! Head Master: Welcome on board! It sounds like you are looking forward to the new role… Rebecca: I can‟t wait! Mrs Layton-Short will be taking up her post in Al Ain in April.

www.brightoncollegealain.ae

”

“ I am excited to have the opportunity to provide an outstanding British-style education in Al Ain.

Rebecca Layton-Short, Head of Junior School

www.brightoncollegealain.ae

NEWS FROM BRIGHTON COLLEGE The latest news from our sister schools in the UK and in Abu Dhabi

‘Outstanding’ - top marks for Abu Dhabi school! Brighton College Abu Dhabi has been rated a band A “high performance school” after its first ADEC

inspection. The College gained top marks across all areas of the inspection, including its overall effectiveness, pupil standard and progress, personal development, quality of teaching,

curriculum, pastoral care quality of buildings, resources and effectiveness of leadership. Young Apprentice Brighton College UK‟s Lucy Beauvallet (Pictured right, Lower 6th, Head‟s House) came second in BBC1‟s Young Apprentice last month. Lucy narrowly missed out on the title after reaching the final from an original group of 12 candidates in the running for Lord Sugar‟s prize of investment in their business future. James Chisholm named ‘Player of the Month’ by Rugby World James Chisholm (Pictured below, U6th, Durnford House) was named Canterbury „Player of the

Month‟ in the December issue of the highly influential rugby union magazine, Rugby World. James, who captains the Brighton College UK 1st XV, is also the England U18 No 8.

Announcing the award, Rugby World highlights his recent strong performance for Harlequins A against Saracens, just weeks after his seventeenth birthday, and says: “James has been outstanding for the current XV, his surges and ball carrying are key to the pack’s high work-rate.” James‟s achievement follows on from BCUK‟s 1st

XV being named “Team of the Month” in the London Evening Standard in November 2012. Senior School Houses introduced in Abu Dhabi The British-style House system has been introduced into the Senior School at Brighton College Abu Dhabi, with four new houses for Year 9 and 10 pupils. The new Houses are beginning to take shape: multi-coloured Fat-Boy bean bags, locker spaces and work desks feature, and each of the Houses competed to decorate their space with personal touches. Each House has been challenged to „make the space their own‟. The 4 Houses are named after Houses from Brighton College UK: Chichester-Williams (girls), Ryle (boys), Fenwick (girls) and Hampden (boys). Cricket coaching by a Brighton College legend Brighton College Abu Dhabi pupils were visited by legendary cricket coach John Spencer (pictured below), who led cricket sessions during PE lessons last term. John was a teacher at Brighton College UK for 34 years, having previously played cricket at county level for Sussex. He ended his playing career in 1980 to take up teaching full-time and held several positions at BCUK, including Assistant Head, Head of Geography and Head of Cricket (during which time he oversaw the development of England wicketkeepers Matt Prior and Sarah Taylor among others). John was also recently highly

commended at the Daily Telegraph School Sports Awards. Mr Spencer kindly donated cricket bats and balls for the PE Department to use, including a brand new cricket bat and wicket-keeping gloves for the most improved players. It is hoped that John‟s visit will be the first of many exchanges of staff among the three Brighton Colleges.